Medigap Foreign Travel Emergency Coverage: What to Know

Medigap foreign travel emergency is a benefit included in some standardized Medigap plans. It may help pay part of the cost of emergency care when you are outside the country. Original Medicare usually does not pay for health care received abroad, with only limited exceptions.

The benefit is tied to the plan letter. Plans C, D, G, M and N are among the Medigap plans that have offered it, and Plan F did too for people who became eligible before January 1, 2020. Plans C and F are available only to people who became eligible for Medicare before that date. Plans A and B do not include it. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin standardize Medigap differently, so check your state.

The benefit usually has conditions, such as a time limit on the trip, a deductible, a coinsurance share and a lifetime cap. Those details can differ by plan and change over time, so confirm them in current plan materials. Official Medicare information is at Medicare.gov.

Plan H is sometimes searched for in this context. Plans E, H, I and J were discontinued and are not sold today.

Many people who travel abroad have looked at several options. Some rely on a Medigap plan that includes the foreign travel emergency benefit. Others buy a separate travel medical insurance policy for a specific trip.

Some travelers also look at travel insurance that includes medical evacuation, since the foreign travel benefit in Medigap is usually about emergency care and may not cover every cost of getting home. Others choose to pay out of pocket or skip coverage for short trips.

People with Medicare Advantage may find that some plans offer limited emergency or urgent care coverage abroad, while others do not. Medigap and Medicare Advantage each have strengths and trade-offs. Medigap generally lets you see any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, with no network, but often has higher monthly premiums. Medicare Advantage often has lower premiums and an annual out-of-pocket maximum, but may use networks and prior authorization.

A Medigap agent may help you compare which plan letters include the foreign travel emergency benefit and how that fits with the rest of your coverage. A licensed agent can explain how plans are standardized, while carriers, prices and rules vary by state.

A conversation is usually relaxed. The agent may ask where and how often you travel, which plan you have or are considering, and your health history. Rules on open enrollment, guaranteed issue and medical underwriting vary by state and can change, so the agent may point you to Medicare.gov or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to confirm them.

Good questions to ask include: Which of these plans include foreign travel emergency coverage? What conditions or limits apply? Would a separate travel policy still make sense? How does this plan work with a separate Part D drug plan? Call 1-800-MEDIGAP for more information.